Friday, August 22, 2008: On the Street......Ostermalm, Stockholm

If I would have caught the bus,
I’d be sitting in your kitchen,

late summer light bathing us.
But, my dear, this didn’t happen—

I heard the bus while buying bread
(which I should have done last night

but I didn’t). So, instead,
we’ll dine by artificial light.

Thursday, August 21, 2008: On the Street.....Black and White, Stockholm

What I found in the pockets of last year’s raincoat
while wearing it this morning:

Ticket stub from a movie I can’t remember

Receipt from the grocer for oranges, dated September 3, 2007

Ex-boyfriend’s blue guitar pick

Tiny bit of paper with the number 217 written on it in pencil

Wednesday, August 20, 2008: On the Street...Joakim, Stockholm

When I asked Joakim why he only wore black,
He brought me to his closet, laughed,

Replied, There are at least ten shades
Of black. When the colour fades,

You can see the undertone.
Here’s a sweater I’ve outgrown.

The worn-out spots are all green-black.
I started sorting through a stack

Of his black pants, noting other
Shades, more bruised, darkened colours:

Olive-black, an army mud;
Reddish, brick black, like blood

That’s dried; the inky-blue of crows
And blackbirds. Brown-black; wine-black merlot.

That night, I dreamt fevered dreams
Of counting blacks and shredded seams.

Wednesday, May 30, 2007: On the Street.....NYU Student, Manhattan

White wires dangle
from pockets and ears,
twisted and tangled.

We plug ourselves in
between here and there
to accompany errands.

Sunday, July 29, 2007: On the Street.......Summer Cardigan, Soho

Throughout the day, thirteen hands adjust
the dial that controls the office climate.
The corresponding clothing negates August:
jackets, scarves, sweaters, even blankets
shield women’s shoulders from A.C.
Metropolitan air ferments,
is chilled on ice, decanted soundlessly.